Stuff You'll Like

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No matter what you’re getting up to at night, you’re probably going to be hungry afterwards -- and living in New York means you shouldn’t have to limit the scope of your dining desires any more at 2am than you do at 2pm. Whether you’re in the mood for one of the city's best burgers or want to get the most important meal of the day a little bit earlier, consult this definitive guide to the best late-night eats available 'til 2am or later in NYC, broken down by type of food.

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Bagels

WilliamsburgOpen ‘til: 24 hours every day
One of the only places in NYC where you can get the Jersey breakfast staple: Taylor ham, egg, and cheese. Few things will do as good of a job soaking up whatever else you’ve consumed that night.

West VillageOpen ‘til: 24 hours every day
This Washington Square Park-adjacent spot has a huge selection of bagels and cream cheeses (including bacon & cheddar), plus a very solid -- and large -- bacon, egg & cheese.

Open ‘til: 24 hours every dayUpper East Side
It’s not the original (the loss of which we’re still mourning to this day), but this distant relative across town has bagels that are basically just as perfect (and they’re available 24/7).

Breakfast

TribecaOpen ‘til: 24 hours Fri & Sat
Midnight brunch starts at 11pm, so it’ll be running smoothly by the time you get there. The griddle special will embrace you with a choice of pancakes, meat, and eggs.

GramercyOpen ‘til: 24 hours every day
You won’t need to remember what you learned in eighth-grade French to eat at this 24-hour spot offering croque-madames and steak frites -- or the slightly less French-sounding croissant sandwich and fresh-fruit pancakes.

ChelseaOpen ‘til: 24 hours every day
The whole menu at this 24-hour Cuban diner is delicious (who doesn’t want huevos rancheros after a long night?!). For the sweet tooth in your group, the blue corn pancakes will be a showstopper.

Burgers

West VillageOpen ‘til: 2am every day
While the gnudi is a big hit, after midnight all we can think about is the burger -- one of the best in the city any time of day. The place sells over 75,000 of these per year.

Upper West SideOpen ‘til: 4am every day
Another classic NYC burger spot, P.J. Clarke’s on the UWS serves up its famed Cadillac (with double-smoked country bacon and American cheese) until 4am every day.

Park SlopeOpen ‘til: 4am every day
One of New York’s best double-patty burgers (made with grass-fed beef, melty American, chopped onions, lettuce, and tomato) can be yours after a late night out in Park Slope.

Dessert

Crown HeightsOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
A bar in its own right, Butter & Scotch will gladly serve you a milkshaked White Russian called an El Duderino, if your night isn’t over yet (or, if it is, just a regular milkshake). To close off the night, opt for the seasonal fruit pie a la mode.

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Fried chicken

Lower East SideOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
You’ll have to come back a little earlier next time for the Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner but you can wet your beak with the late-night menu’s chicken & egg biscuit, jerk wings, and chicken tender basket.

Upper West SideOpen ‘til: 2am Thurs-Sat
It’s hard to go wrong here with eight ways to dress up buttermilk fried chicken -- six stomach-calming biscuit sandwiches and two salads (for the health-conscious fried chicken eater amongst you). Keep it chill with honey chicken & pickles or grab a chicken, bacon, egg & cheese if you don’t need to be able to move for a while.

Hot dogs

East VillageOpen ‘til: 2am Mon-Thurs & Sun; 4am Fri & Sat
Do you ever get the feeling that you need a deep-fried hot dog with bacon, pineapples, scallions, and teriyaki sauce in your life? This is the solution.

WilliamsburgOpen ‘til: 2am Mon-Wed & Sun, 4am Thurs-Sat
At this West Coast transplant, choose from 20 options of bangers, from boar to duck to multiple vegan options. And if you’re still thirsty, pick from the vast beer menu.

Coney IslandOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
It’s a New York institution, and while you’re obviously getting a hot dog (or several...), your biggest regret the next morning would be not ordering bacon cheese fries as well.

Pizza

NolitaOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
In the historical landmark that was considered the original Ray’s Pizza, Prince Street Pizza parlays a late-night square that’ll bring you new appreciation for the shape. For a decadent and flavorful option, get the Spicy Spring with fra diavolo or the Boozy Broome with vodka.

East VillageOpen ‘til: 3am every day
What’s a party without the dip? The hearty artichoke slice packs a punch with artichoke hearts, spinach, and cream sauce. If you’re not feeling like a full meal, the sicilian slice will satiate your hunger.

East VillageOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
If you’re looking for something a little more gluten-free or vegan, Two Boots has those options for you -- in addition to pizzas like the Cleopatra Jones (sweet Italian sausage, roasted peppers) and The Bird (Buffalo chicken and blue cheese dressing).

West VillageOpen ‘til: 4am Mon-Thurs & Sun; 5am Fri & Sat
For those times when you want a regular slice, but not just any old regular slice. Joe’s has the prototypical NY slice, pairing thin crust with beautifully even layers of cheese and sauce.

WilliamsburgOpen ‘til: 4am Fri & Sat
Yes, inventive pizza is possible to eat post-2am, especially in Williamsburg. The most popular slices are the Brooklyn and grandma slices, but the pizza slingers here aren’t afraid to push a pizza with goat cheese or kale.

Tacos/burritos/nachos

East VillageOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
The spit-roast pork with pineapple taco is what the restaurant is named after, and it’ll fill all your late-night authentic Mexican cravings. Other tacos stand up to West Coast hatred and the salsas are a secret crowd-pleaser.

East WilliamsburgOpen ‘til: 24 hours every day
With the full menu of a diner -- burgers, souvlaki, and breakfast -- this spot's real heroes are found in the Mexican section of the menu. The tacos, tortas, and tamales are all delicious.

East VillageOpen ‘til: 4am Fri & Sat
One of the best burritos in NYC during the day is also a late-night all-star. You won’t be able to settle in and get comfortable at this bodega, but your stomach will think you took a red eye to California with all the flavors that’ll be coming your way.

Lower East SideOpen ‘til: 2am Tues-Thurs; 4am Fri & Sat
For a less authentic, yet consistently delicious experience, the Lower East Side’s Taquitoria offers a rolled taco that is then fried. You won’t be disappointed.

Bed-StuyOpen ‘til: 2am Mon-Thurs & Sun; 4am Friday & Sat
A bar with its own taco truck and an outside chance of running into Michael Cera (one of the owners). Pick from monstrous tortas and tacos with eight different meats or veggies.

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East VillageOpen ‘til: 2am Fri & Sat
Since 1954, people have been depending on Veselka’s cabbage soup as a hangover cure. And where else can you get some of the city’s best banana pancakes alongside pierogies and a cheeseburger?! Nowhere.

Lower East SideOpen ‘til: 2:45 Thurs; all night Fri & Sat
A fixture of the LES since 1888, this deli turns 24 hours on Friday and Saturday offering hot pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, the best of their kinds in New York. And hold on to your ticket.

KoreatownOpen ‘til: 2am Mon-Thurs; 6am Fri-Sun
Open until a whopping 6am on the weekends, Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong is one of the only Korean barbecue spots with a classically trained chef. It’s got the atmosphere of a Korean barbecue with meats the quality of a steakhouse.

Midtown EastOpen ‘til: 4am Fri
Slurp your way to the sunrise with the Hakata Kuro ramen that comes darkened with burned garlic in oil and crunchy mushrooms and scallions. It’s miles away from the instant ramen in your cupboard at home.

ChinatownOpen ‘til: 4am every day
A Chinatown classic and great place to end your night. Anything with ginger scallion sauce and the roast duck or roast pork will make for a solid path to deliciousness.

Midtown WestOpen ‘til: 2am every day
Be transported to Tokyo simply by walking down some stairs in Times Square. Seriously. This izakaya-style restaurant features a menu of delicious and cheap hits and ice-cold beers.

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Adjacent to Washington Square Park, Bagels on the Square is dominating the West Village breakfast scene. With rapidly turned orders and friendly, 24-hour service, it’s hard not to love this West Village outpost. Bagels are made fresh daily, and are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Plus, for the cream cheese aficionados, there's an impressive selection including bacon and cheddar, scallion, and peanut butter and jelly cream cheese. Slept late and now don’t want to deal with the morning rush? Text your order, and it will be hot and ready when you get there.

Bagels are synonymous with New York in the same way that "deep dish" is synonymous with Chicago -- they're not only a cultural, culinary signifier of each city, but what we subsist on. As the Big Apple's OG bagel purveyor, H&H has rightfully gained legendary status because of the consistent quality of its bagels. First founded in 1972, H&H set up shop on the Upper East Side, and has been doling out the iconic NYC comestible "a bagel 'n schmear" ever since.

Bubby's is known for its solid American comfort food, especially the eggs, pancakes, and fried chicken served at brunch every day of the week. The original Tribeca location was one of JFK Jr.'s haunts in the 90s and it still generates the same buzzing crowds (and lines). Even though its brunch is New York City famous, the evening menu, featuring burgers, barbecue fare, and breakfast for dinner, is just as satisfying. Make sure you order the homemade pie for dessert.

It's hard to miss this neon-lit diner on the corner of Waverly Place and Sixth Ave in the West Village. The neighborhood institution has been around for years, and in 2011 it underwent a gut renovation that made the old-fashioned interior a bit more modern. It's still equipped with diner decor like padded vinyl booths and dark wood paneling and serves the same Greek, Italian, and American standards. The menu has just about anything you could want, from buttermilk pancakes and malted milkshakes to thick-cut steak fries and an endless variety of omelets. Note: it's cash only.

Named for a Havana ice cream shop, this 24/7 "traditional Cuban luncheonette" from the Yerba Buena chef is outfitted Caribbean-style, with a large marble bar sporting spinning stools, and a beautiful stained glass window near the kitchen. The eats are designed for the post-Meatpacking group, with Cuban classics like ceviche, fried cheese balls, and empanadas ready to satisfy even the most aggressive of 4am appetites.

April Bloomfield's West Village restaurant and bar is a fan-favorite among celebrities, lifetime New Yorkers, and tourists, known for its bucket list-worthy chargrilled roquefort burger with shoestring fries. The British-meets-Italian gastropub famously doesn't take reservations, but it's also open until 2am nightly, so if you can't get a table during peak dinner hours, then a late-night seat at the bar is your best bet -- and probably the most quintessential New York experience.

One of New York's most classic burgers can be found at this prepster pub that's been serving the Upper East Side since 1972. The hallmark of J.G. Melon is the hamburger, comprised of a griddled beef patty and American cheese on a toasted potato bun. If you aren't a regular who lives within a five-block radius, the bar burger really is the only reason to go to J.G. Melon, whose melon decor and green-checkered tablecloths haven't changed much since it first opened.

From the outside, Corner Bistro seems like an unassuming dive, but step inside this iconic NYC establishment, which touts itself as one of "the last of the bohemian bars" in West Village, and you'll find plenty of local charm. A timeless NYC tavern and dive, Corner Bistro is renowned for its burgers; piled high with juicy beef, crispy bacon and melted American cheese, they're tasty, satisfying, and affordable.

A New York institution, P.J. Clarke's has delivered on the fancy cheeseburger promise since 1884. And while Midtown in the new millennia no longer projects late-20th century old money glam, the venue continues to maintain a setting of demure class. Come for the bacon cheeseburgers, stay for the exemplary cocktails.

There’s something so comforting about walking into a neighborhood tavern, even if it’s not your own, and knowing exactly what to do: order a draft beer or a glass of whiskey and a burger. Park Slope’s Dram Shop is just the place to do that, dram-it, with a large wood bar, 12 craft beers on tap, and a respectable whiskey selection. The food is heavy pub stuff, including deep fried mac & cheese balls (cubes, really), chicken wings, and a grass-fed American cheeseburger that's based on an earlier version first crafted by the owner's grandfather in Dallas. A full-size shuffleboard court and pool table will you keep active while childhood boardgames like Jenga and Chutes & Ladders make drinking all the more fun.

Butter & Scotch is a genius dessert and cocktail bar in Crown Heights. The menu is split between drinks like crafty cocktails and boozy milkshakes, and desserts that range from ice cream sundaes to cakes and pies, including the signature s'mores pie made with graham cracker crust, thick chocolate ganache, and toasted marshmallow fluff. The spot's weekend brunch serves up breakfast cocktails that go beyond the basic Bloody Mary and biscuit-centric plates.

If you enjoy gooey, warm from the oven cookies, Insomnia Cookies is your perfect late night snack. You can order simple cookies like chocolate chip, snickerdoodle or peanut butter, but if you want the full Insomnia experience, go for the deluxe cookies like the s'mores or peanut butter cup. If you're really feeling up for it, you can even turn your cookies into an ice cream sandwich.

This mom-and-pop Chelsea joint has been serving donuts 24/7 since 1964. Classics are usually the toughest things to master, but Donut Pub has them down. The honey dip, its version of the traditional glazed donut, is light and fluffy with a crackly sugar shell that truly melts in your mouth. The spot looks like a diner but don't expect too many savory options -- the menu is limited to pastries, bagels, a few sandwiches (cheese, tuna salad, ham), and coffee.

Sarah Simmons' upscale restaurant on the Lower East Side is dedicated to two things: Southern food and champagne. The menu changes with the seasons but you can always expect the signature buttermilk fried chicken, available by the half or full bird, and an extensive selection of champagne and sparkling wines. The subterranean space opens onto a large outdoor patio, and though it's popular for brunch and dinner, Birds & Bubbles serves a late-night menu with the aforementioned fried chicken and biscuit sandwiches that's a huge draw on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Bromberg Brothers' success with Blue Ribbon Sushi and Blue Ribbon Brasserie continues with an East Village fast-casual spot devoted to all things fried chicken. Breasts, thighs, wings, and drumsticks, and tenders come crisp and juicy with a side of coleslaw, while fried chicken sandwiches are gussied up with blue cheese, red onion, and bacon (in the case of the Blue Bird). Don't discount the fries: the thin and golden sticks are glued together by cheddar, sprinkled with bacon, and topped with a dollop of sour cream when you get them "with the works." You may need a milkshake to get that down.

Beer. Biscuits. Pickles. That's the tagline and so that's what we're going to recommend at this brick walled restaurant. The brews comes in 25 domestic brews, the biscuits are best smothered in gravy(only one of many Southern favorites on the menu) and the pickles are just one of the many things they soak in their own brine here. Try the pickled eggs with their jalepeno pickling or the carrots which come with a sweet and spicy flare.

Empire Biscuit is exactly as it sounds... a manically obsessive eatery based around the wonder that are biscuits. They're not ordinary, either -- try one of their custom biscuits, or go with a friend and split the the Snuggah Boo -- a plum, prune & port, goat cheese, and black pepper buttered wonder.

With outposts across NYC, the Korean mega-chain BonChon is known for its perfectly crispy, huge wings, with flavor choices of soy garlic or "hot" (which contains red chili peppers and 'gochugaru,' a smoky Korean spice). If that weren't enough to whet your whistle, the Midtown East location of the chain is also decked out with large HDTVs for sports fans to watch games. Score!

Crif Dogs is to hot dogs like Katz's is to pastrami and Russ & Daughters is to lox. The house-made dogs come in a variety of styles -- go big with one of the bacon-wrapped dogs, like the Tsunami, which comes with a healthy dosage of teriyaki, pineapple, and green onions, or keep it simple with the deep-fried corn dog (made with a super secret batter, of course). Crif Dogs' original location, in the heart of Alphabet City, is home to the phone booth entrance that leads to one of the city's most iconic speakeasies, PDT.

This New York City staple, open since the 70s, slings franks like it's nobody's business. It's opened a few outposts across the city throughout the years, but the Upper West Side joint is the longest-running and the most iconic, if only because it's had quite a few cameos in its tenure (You've Got Mail, for one). There are only two words you need to know at Gray's: Recession Special, which'll get you two 100% beef hot dogs topped with all the basics you want (ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, etc) and a drink. Aside from the fact that Gray's is cheap, like really cheap, it's open 24/7. Huzzah!

Sure, Nathan's is a supermarket brand these days, but going to the actual joint in Coney Island should be on everyone's New York bucket list. You can't go wrong with the original grilled hot dog with ketchup, mustard, and a side of crinkle-cut cheese fries. The Surf Ave location is literally plastered with Nathan's signage, which somehow makes your hot dog-eating experience feel more authentic than what you'd get from any old cart.

This popular Nolita pizza shop specializes in square pizzas and New York-style pies. Available by the slice or as a whole pie, all of the pizzas are named after streets in SoHo. The signature is hands down the Spicy Spring, a square pie topped with spicy fra diavolo tomato sauce, mozzarella, and crispy pepperonis. The space is tiny and aside from a few counters, there isn't much seating so your best bet is to eat your slice on the street like a true New Yorker.

Joe's Pizza is the epitome of an NYC slice joint. The West Village original has been doling out perfectly simple slices of New York and Sicilian-style pies since 1975, while the Williamsburg outpost is much newer, having set up shop in 2015. No matter which Joe's you're at, the process is simple: wait in line, pay for a slice, fold it in half, and eat it while standing.

Williamsburg Pizza is a popular counter-serve joint that doles out Brooklyn slices and Grandma squares, plus some of the shiniest, crustiest, and steaming hot garlic knots in the city. Toppings vary from house-made mozzarella and Italian sausage to crimini mushrooms and white truffle oil. The no-frills spot is perfect for when you're looking for a late-night slice, or you just feel like ordering a pizza.

Alex Stupak’s East Village Mexican is all the proof you need that New York knows its tacos. Across the street from Tompkins Square Park, the counter-order spot is more laid-back that Stupak's other Empellon ventures thanks to its simple focus on tacos, margaritas, and Micheladas. The menu keeps things simple: there are tacos (the eponymous al pastor is a must), chicken wings, nachos, and guacamole. The crowd is cool and casual, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when Empellon is open until 2am -- consider your late-night taco cravings fulfilled.

Open 24/7, this Mexican diner serves up the best of both worlds: quality Mexican and American diner food. Feast on chilaquiles and chicken fingers or quesadillas with a side of pancakes. You crave it, Grand Morelos has it.

Taquitoria literally only serves... yep, taquitos, which're cooked up by some Restaurant Marc Forgione alums. And let us just say: they are probably the best taquitos you will ever have in your life. Even better than those frozen ones your mom heated up for you after school, if you can believe it.

A bar with a Mexican food truck in the backyard that serves up huge tortas and tacos with 8 different meats and veggies. Plus Michael Cera is one of the owners so if that doesn't draw you in for a visit, I don't know what will.

Since 1954, New Yorkers have depended on Veselka’s cabbage soup as the cure for a hangover. And where else can you get some of the city’s best banana pancakes alongside pierogies and a cheeseburger? Nowhere. On the pierogi front, it doesn’t matter what filling you choose, each fork-tender pocket feels like it came straight out of baba’s kitchen and tastes like a Polish heaven.

Open since 1888 on the corner of East Houston and Ludlow Street, Katz's is synonymous with iconic New York City food, specifically, slow-cured pastrami and corned beef. There's usually a line filled with a mix of tourists, die-hard New Yorkers, and everyone in between, and the wait is nothing but proof of the stacked sandwiches' pure goodness. You receive a paper ticket when you walk in, order at the counter (be ready!), and wait while the servers sling layers of pink meat onto cafeteria trays. If pastrami on rye (or better yet, a hot reuben) is your kind of late-night food, then you're in luck -- Katz's is open all night on Fridays and Saturdays. Words to the wise: stock up on napkins, order a generous side of pickles, and whatever you do, don't lose your ticket.

The family-style dining of Korean BBQ -- shareable plates and interactive atmosphere -- is always ideal for large groups, and Kang Ho Dong is no exception. Founded by comedian and wrestler Kang Ho Dong, this South Korean chain's Koreatown location delivers an authentic KBBQ experience, starting with the banchan -- small side dishes -- served as soon as you take a seat. We recommend the Beef Combo: nibble on kimchi and steamed eggs while you throw the sliced brisket, prime rib, and short rib on your tableside grill. Sojo cocktails -- a yogurt and Sprite option is a classic -- and beer finish off the meal.

This second-floor branch of a Japanese chain isn’t attractive and appetizers can be skipped, but the ramen bowls are reason to visit. A pork-based tonkotsu ramen is affordable and well-executed, but the specialty dish is Hakata kuro ramen, which is mixed with burnt garlic oil, giving it a dark and murky appearance and a sour taste.

This Chinatown noodle bar and eatery is a hidden gem for late night dumpling indulgence. Although the interior does not dazzle with décor, what Noodletown lacks in appearance, it more than makes up for in flavor. Renowned for their seafood, their extensive menu of salt-baked fish and crustaceans have the kind of flavor-y grit you can only find from an authentic Chinatown hole in the wall.

If the Japanese clientele is any indication, this tourist-free underground bar in Times Square is as close to an authentic Tokyo drinking den as you’ll get in Midtown, and perhaps all of Manhattan. The typical izakaya fare includes sake, shochu, and ice-cold Sapporos, plus small bites like chicken yakitori, deep-fried fish and meats, and an insanely popular cod roe pasta.